THE HISTORY OF THE RETIRED
ENLISTED ASSOCIATIONTHE HISTORY OF THE RETIRED
ENLISTED ASSOCIATION
JULY 1977 TO JULY
1978
REA National President sent letter to
all Senators on the Temporary Select committee expressing REA's hope that the Committee
will not recommend the abolishment of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
National Convention held in Colorado
Springs, Colorado on July 21-23, 1977. Officers elected/appointed:
President - Lee Newton
1st Vice - Leo Acosta
2nd Vice - Floyd Stevens
3rd Vice - Lynnie Samms
Treasurer - Dean Sorell
Secretary - E. J. Grayckowski
Chaplain - Johnnie White
Sgt-At-Arms - Floyd Fletcher
3-Yr. Trustee - Vic Mercer
2-Yr. Trustee - E. J. Grayckowski
1-Yr. Trustee - Cameron Blagg
President Mercer appointed a Chapter
President Award Committee of Delegates F. Fletcher (Chapter 1-Chairman), Murray (Chapter
18) and Patterson (Chapter 9) to determine the recipient for the current year according to
the recommendations received from the Chapters.
President Mercer appointed a Trophy
Committee consisting of Delegates C. Blagg (Chapter 20-Chairman), L. Samms (Chapter 4) and
Headley Chapter 1) to determine the best Chapter according to the membership statistics.
Old Business
Membership: Vice President Newton
reported many inquiries were received this past year for forming new chapters and
membership in the REA. New Chapters were formed in Atlanta, Georgia (21) and Killeen,
Texas (22). There is a great potential for Chapters in Topeka, Kansas, Abilene, Texas,
Salinas, California and Wichita, Kansas.
Our Man in Washington : Vice
President Newton noted a potential increase of membership with an offering of office space
by The Retired Officer's Association (TROA) in their new building at Arlington, Virginia
about September of 1977, which would put Our Man in the Washington area to represent the
REA. Col. George F. Hennrikus, Jr., USAF, Retired, the present legislative counsel and the
present REA spokesman in Washington, has offered to assist the REA in total support of the
new endeavor to put enlisted personnel on the Washington scene.
Auxiliary: Vice President Newton
spoke of the fine team work of the Chapter Auxiliaries to make the National Auxiliary
strong and the potential of a larger development to assist in the REA rallying to be
number one in the nation.
Legislative: Vice President Stevens
reported on the action of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) to
unionize the Armed Forces and the congressional attempt to create legislation prohibiting
all Armed Forces Unions. Dual Compensation relief looks pretty bleak due to the high
costs. Rehiring rights provisions of the Veterans Act, a veteran not being a veteran, has
not come to the floor of Congress as of this date.
President Mercer called a three
minute recess to congratulate the delegate from Chapter 4 of Junction City, Kansas as the
1977 Chapter President Trophy recipient President Lynnie Samms. Subject committee was
dissolved at the same time.
Scholarship: Vice President Lee
Newton reported that only one application was received by the committee during the past
year and the committee did not find it favorable in granting a scholarship. He further
encouraged the delegation to support the program with continued subscriptions by the
membership.
Service: Chaplain White stressed the
serous problems of the eroding retiree benefits and the cut in staff and treatment by the
Veterans Administration Hospitals.
Publicity: Trustee Grayckowski
reported that many chapters did not forward news items for the bulletin. A search for a
publication to put out a retiree magazine, such as VFW and DAV, has been started and this
publication should put new life in the REA. Our Man in Washington should lead to better
legislative reporting and greater scope of news for the membership.
Colorado Military Council: Trustee
Sorell gave a brief report of the Council's action which has been beneficial to the
Colorado Retiree and Veteran. He stressed all chapters to institute this action in their
respective states to maintain the benefits and gain better recognition in their state
veteran affairs.
New Business: Delegate Fletcher
(Chapter 1) moved that paragraph 1, Article XXIV - Auxiliary be added to read: National
Auxiliary was authorized and approved on June 26, 1972 at a National Convention held in
Junction City, Kansas.
Delegate Gutierrez (Chapter 20) moved
that paragraph 2, Article XXIV - Auxiliary be added to read: Each chapter of the REA is
hereby authorized to establish an auxiliary to function at the discretion of each chapter.
Delegate Headley (Chapter 1) moved
that paragraph 3, Article XXIV - Auxiliary be added to read: A chapter auxiliary can be
disbanded by eighty percent (80%) of the membership present at a general membership
meeting.
Chapter 22 was formed in Waco, Texas
during June of 1977.
MINUTES OF EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
FEBRUARY 25, 1978
Convention minutes were reviewed and
corrected as follows:
Page 1: Membership Chapter 1 516
Chapter 4 90 Chapter 7 19 Chapter 9 90 Chapter 16 9 Chapter 18 21
Chapter 19 73 Chapter 20 43 Chapter
21 73 Chapter 22 Deleted MAL 42 TOTAL 1,282
Delegate present Chapter 4 1 TOTAL 23
Authorized proxies Chapter 4 2 TOTAL 3
President Newton made a short review
and accounting of Our Man in Washington and advised of the delay TROA was having in moving
into their new building.
President Newton brought the subject
of larger publication for National Headquarters, which a motion by Vice President Lynnie
Samms to table until such time as there is sufficient funds.
Trustee Grayckowski moved the
promotional calendar of the scholarship program be discontinued due to non-support.
($440.00 was donated against a bill of $1,498.00).
Trustee Grayckowski moved that we
investigate the trade-marking of the national emblem due to the conflict with Carman and
Associates. Chaplain White will pick up the necessary instructions and paperwork at the
Federal Building in Denver, Colorado.